Knitting-machine construction



s Sheet s-S he et 1 Jan. 15, 1924.

O. J. BERGER KNITTING I MACHINE CONSTRUCTION Filed June 26 1922 2 w w WW Ml Jan. v15 1924. r 1,480,926 o. 'J. BERGER v KNITTING MACHINE CONSTRUCTION I v Filed June 26. 1922 3She ets-She'e t 2 v Jan. 15 :1924. I 1,480,926

o. J.' BERGER KNITTING MACHINE, CONSTRUCTIOQ- Filed June '26 1s22 s Sheets-Sheet s v Inuznfoi". v omelBerge f"MffM m forneg Patented den. 15, 19124..

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OLLIE J. BERG-ER, OFGBAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR'TO UNIV KNITTING A MACHINE COMPANY, QF LIMA,

OHIO, A CORPORATION GF OHIO.

." KNITTING-MACHINE CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed June as, 1922. Serial No. 570,863.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OLLIE J. BERGER, a citizen of the UnitedStates of America, residing at Grand Ra ids, in the county of 6; Kent and State of Miichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knitting-Machine Constructions; and I do hereby declare thefollowing' to be a full,

. clear, and exact description of the invention,

1 such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to a knitting .machine of what is known as the fiat type 1 and is concerned primarily in the provision of a relatively simple means in connection with. the cam carriage of the machine and the needles thereof for depressing the same to an inoperative position when such result 9 is desired. It is an improvement in the constrnction shown and described in the Patent No. 1,198,506.. issued Sept. 19, 1916, and invented by William A. Ainsworth. In the Ainsworth structure, the bending downward of the raised needles as the cam carriage passes thereover serves to crystallize the same with a resultant breakage of the same and ruin of the cloth or goods being produced. This invention is for the purpose 1% of providing a means which has 'no disadvantages of thiskind, which is simple and efi'ective in its operations and which, in practice has proved durable and sure in operation. To these ends, I have made the construction disclosed in the accompanying drawings and described in the following description, in which drawings,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical transverse section through one side of a knitting machine, showing the needles elevated for actuation by the cam carriage.

Fig. 2 is a like view, showing the needle depressed and the means used for accomplishing the same.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan View of the knitting machine equipped with my invention.

Fig; 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical section, taken substantially on the plane of line H, of -Fig. S.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section and side elevation illustrating one movement of the needle depressing mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary end elevation showin the means used for actuating the 'shiftab e guide for the nee means.

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are fragmentary transverse vertical sections showing the positions ofthe shiftable'guide and' the cam actuator therefor in three different positions which the same are designed to occupy, and

Fig. 10 is a -fragmentary enlarged plan of the shiftable guide and actuating means therefor.

Like reference characters refer to 'l'ike parts in the several figures of the drawl; the construction of the knitting machine, a needle bed 1 is provided, one at each side of the machine which is permanently secured in place by attachment to the machine frame, partly shown at 2. The bed is positioned at-an angle to the horizontal and vertical. The bed 1 is cut with a plurality of slots in its upper side in which the lower edges of guide plates 3are seated, each of the guides 3 having a hook 4 at its upper end which hooks over the upper reduced edge of the plate 1, indicated at 5.

Each guide 3 at its opposite end is redle depressing ceived in a suitable slot or seat out in the frame part 2. A bar 6 extends transversely ,over all of the guides 3 and may be secured thereto in any suitable manner. This 'bar is located substantially midway between the ends of the guides. The guides are each provided with an ear or projection at their upper ends and on their upper sides, through which a rod 7 extends and below the same and nearer the ends of the guides a bar 8 passes through all of the same over which the upper ends of the needles 9 located between the guides are adapted to pass in the operation of the machine.

The needles are of usual construction, each having a flat member 10 attached at its lower end which is formed with an upward projection 11. These projections, in the lowermost positions of the needles between the guides lie below the'upper edges of the guides. The lower end of each needle rests on a jack 12 which is made with a projectingfinger 13 extending downwardly through a slot inthe needle bed 1 and a distance below the bed. A pattern drum 15 is located below the fingers 13 having ribs 16 extending therefrom with depressions 17 in the ribs as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. When the finare i gnrs .13 are entered in the depressions at 17, t e. jacks are lowered and the needles may be correspondingly lowered to "bring the projections below the upper-edges of the guides '3; With the rotation of the drum the-fingersfi13 ride out of the depressions and on to the higher'parts of the ribs'16,

elevating the jacks and needles as shown in Fig. 1-. The ribs are formed with different at 18 carries ablock 19 on its under side located over the projections 11 of the needles I and formed with a cam slot 20 on its under side into which the projections 11 are entered whenthe lower ends of the needles are lifted through the medium of the pattern drum. When thus elevated, the needles are reciprocated by the reciprocation of the cam carriage, only those needles lifted being 0 erated, as is obvious. The construction t us far described is old andwell known and need not be further set forth.

The cam carriage 18 has an opening 21 therein over the bar 6 at one side of which a member 22. is pivotally mounted on a projection 24 cast with the carriage, a screw 23 being used to provide a pivotal mount. A fiat spring 25 is secured to the projection 24 and extends at its freeend over the upper end of member 22 which is formed at-such upper end with two sides located at an angle to each other. This member is adapted to occupy three positions and be yieldingly held in such positions by the spring 25, said spring bearing against either of the sides or against the corner where said sides join. being formed with a rib which receives the corner, as shown. At the lower end of member 22 a shoe 26 is permanently secured which in the central position lies directly over the bar 6 and in the movement of the cam carriage rides lengthwise of: and over such bar.

Between each of the adjacent guides 3,

' a member 27 of sheet metal is positioned.

- tion of any needle. its associated member is raised thus elevating all of the legs 28 and 28 above the ion of the bar 6, the shorter legs 29 coming substantially to the level incense with said topof the bar, as shown in Fig. 5.

At one end of the needle bed a guide 30 .is permanently secured by screws or like fastenings from which two lugs project upwardly having adjacent sides 31 curve-d inthearc of a circle. The slot or opening between the lugs lies in alinement with the bar 6 and in the movement of the cam carof its engagement against-one g r the other of the curved sides 31 of the lugs. At the opposite end of the bed, a similar but shiftable uide is located with like lugs projecting t erefrom having curved inner adjacent sides 31 the guide having oppositely extending arms 32 slotted length-wise thereof through which screws 83 pass to connect the guide to the machine but permit a limited movement in either direction of the same from its central position in which the opening between the lugs alines with the bar 6. A spring 34 normally pulls the guide in one direction against a cam 35 secured at the end of a shaft 36 mounted in suitable bearings 37 attached to the bed 1. The outer end of the shaft extends beyond the end of the bed 1 and has an arm 38 connected thereto. The upper end of a link 39 is connected to the arm 38 and ex tends downwardly through a stationary guide 40 so that its lower end bears against the surface of a cam 41 which is rotatable with the pattern drum, making a single revolut-ion with each revolution of the drum. The cam 41 is a. circular disk which at one .point has a notchor recess -12 cut therein to receive the lower end of the link 39 while at a short distance therefrom a projection 43 is made over which the lower end of said link rides on further rotation of the drum and disk.

When the link 39 is riding at its lower end against the circular periphery of the cam 41, the shift-able guide is at its central position and the cam 35 is positioned against the shii'table guide as shown in Fig. 7. When the part 39 comes to the recess 42 and enters therein under the influence of spring 34, the parts are positioned as shown in Fig. 8, and when the shoe 26 reaches the guide it is swung away from its normal central position over to an angle thereto so that on the nextreciprocation of the cam .carriage the shoe rides over all of the projecting legs 28 of all of the members 27; and when the part 39 rides over the projection 43, the

parts are shifted to the position shown in Fig 9 and the shoe is shifted by the guide to a second angular position so that on reciprocation of the cam carriage it will ride over the legs 28 and 29 on the opposite side of the bar 6. \Vhen the carriage reaches the fixed guide 30, it is obvious that the shoe is righted to normal central position 'at that end of the cam carriage travel.

In practice the knitting machine starts 'claims and I consider myself ent tled to all I forms of structure coming .:within their on apiece of goods with a certain numberof needles operating, the least number that is used at any time and in the progress of the work other needles are elevated as the work is widened until all of the needles used are in elevated position and operated by the the cam carriage. This continues to the end of the piece of goods knitted, whereupon the pattern drum has made a revolution or the pointis reached when the lower end of member 39 enters the recess 42 in the drum, with a consequent depression of all of the needles of one of the needle beds when the shoe'is in the position shown in Fig. 8. It is to be understood that at this time the needles on the other bed are not depressed but continue operation whereby a dividing or severing section between the con-' 'secutive pieces of goodstknitted is made by the needles of a single side of the machine. The shoe is righted' immediately after it has passed over the legs 28'of members 27 and the needles are again all elevated momentarily, the pattern drum ribs 16 having recemes 17 a short distance ahead of the recesses 17 for allowing depression of the needles atythe time shoe 26 passes over legs :28, followed by a later momentary elevation thereof. On the passage of the member 39 over the projection 43 and consequent swinging of the shoeto the position shown in Fig. 9, all of the needles of both sides of the machine. have been elevated and the passage of the shoe 26 over legs 28 and 29 serves only to depress those associatedwith the members 27 having the longer legs 28 leaving such needles elevated as are required to again begin the narrower knitted portion or the goods to be produced. The operation of the machine is continuous, a piece of goods being knitted and followed by another of exactly the same type.

There is thus provided a sure andpositive depression of the needles when desired without bending of the needles or crystallization thereof with resultantbreakage. This construction is particularly eraluable in knitting the pieces of goods from which sleeves for underwear are made, starting with the narrower or cuff portion of the sleeve and finishing with the wider portions. The needles are elevated as desired by proper controlling ribs 16 on the pattern drum for accomplishing this and after a piece of goods is knitted, the same are depressed and again partly elevated for again starting a succeeding piece of goods with a short waste or severing piece between the two pieces. The invention is simple, serviceable, durable and has proved exceptionally satisfactory in practice. Breakage of needles with consequent stopping of the machine or ruin of goods j eai completed s entirely eliminated.

- The invention is ldefined injthe appended needles at different times in the'o'peration of 1 the machine,a carriage operable -.lengthwise of'and over the needle bed to engage and operate the elevated needles, a device located above each needle between the guides and elevated with the elevation of the needle, and meansnormally out of operative re lation-to said devices and attached to l movable with the carriage movable use alinement and over said devices to depress the same at the completion of a predeter-- mined cycle of operation of the knitting machine.

2. In a knitting machine, a flat needle bed having parallel guides extending theretending, transversely of the guides between -from, needles between the guides, at bar en-- their ends, U-shaped members placed one over each needle, means for elevating the needles at diflerentti-mes, thereby elevating said members, the'legs of which pass on'opposite sides of the bar, a carriage movable over the bed, amember pivotally mounted on the carriage and normally traversing the bed above said bar, and means for shifting said member to one side to bring the same in alinement with the legs of said Urshaped members at 'one side of .the. bar. to ride thereover and depress the needles at the completion of a predetermined cycle of operation ofthe knitting machine.

3 In a. knitting machine, a fiat needle bed havin parallel guides extending therefrom, needles between the guides, a bar ex tending transversely of the guidesbetween over the legs of said U-shaped members at one side of the 'bar to depress the same and the needles thereunder at the completion of a predetermined cycle of operation of the machine. 1

4. A construction containing the elements in combination defined in claim'Q. combined with yielding means for holding the said pivotally mounted member in any position to which it is shifted.

6. In a knitting machine, a fiat needle bed having parallel needle guides thereon,

needles mounted between the guides, a bar located over and transversely of the guides, 21- member located between each-two adjacent guides over each needle having a part passing under the barand a part extending npwardly along one side of the bar, a carriagej mounted to pass back and forth over the bed, means for elevating the needles at different times for engagement and operation by the carriage,-a shoe member pivotally mounted on the carriage and normally traversin the bet-l above the bar, afixed guide at one end of the bed into which the shoe passes for positioning the same to pass over the bar, a like guide movably mounted atthe opposite end of the bed, means normally holding said second guide in alinement with the bar and first guide,-means for releasing said means for shifting the guide to one side of normal position, whereby the shoe entering the same is moved to one side to pass over the upwardly extending parts of said first members on thenext movement of the carriage and thereby depress the needles, substantially as described.

7.'In a knitting machine, a fiat needle bed having parallel guides for needles, needles mounted between the guides, a pattern drum mounted under the bed adapted to operate the needles to'thereby elevate the same at predetermined times, a carriage mounted to pass back and forth over the bed having means to engage with and operate the elevated needles, a shoe member pivotally mounted on the carriage, a fixed and a shiftable guide mounted at opposite ends of the bed normally in alinement to receive the shoe member and position it at a normal position with respect to the needle bed, a member placed over each needle and elevated by said elevation of the needle above the guides, a spring normally tending to move the shi'ftable guide to one messes dles, substantially as described.

8. In a. knitting machine, a fiat needle bed having guides thereon, needles mounted between the guides, means for elevating the needles and releasingthe same for lower-- ing, a bar located transversely over the bed, a U-shaped member placed over each needle between the guides and having legs passing one on each member at opposite sides of the bar, a carriage mounted for passage back and forth over. the bed having means for engagement with the elevated needles to opcrate the same, shiftable means carried by the carriage normally pasing over the bar lengthwise thereof, means to shift saidshiftable means to the same over the legs of'said U-shaped members located at one sideof the bar, and means to shift said shiftable means to pass the same over the legs of the U-shaped members at the oppo site side of the bar. 1

9. A knittin machine containing the elements in combination defined in claim 8, in which the legs of the U-shaped members at oneside of the bar are of equal lengths,

and the legs at the opposite side of the bar are partlyof the same length as those on the first side and partly shorter in length' 10. A knitting machine containing the elements in combination defined in claim 8, combined with means at one end of the bed norma'lly positioning the shiftable means in position to pass over said bar, and yielding means for holding said shiftable means in any position to which shifted.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

OLLIE J. BERGER: 

